New Delhi, June 20 (IANS): Air India has cancelled at least eight domestic and international flights, citing enhanced maintenance and operational reasons, as the airline continues grappling with disruptions following the fatal June 12 plane crash in Ahmedabad.
In a statement released Thursday, the airline said the cancellations are part of ongoing safety measures and maintenance protocols. “Flights have been cancelled due to enhanced maintenance and operational reasons,” the airline stated, adding that procedures for full refunds and complimentary rescheduling have been initiated for affected passengers.
Among the cancelled international flights are AI906 (Dubai to Chennai), AI308 (Delhi to Melbourne), AI309 (Melbourne to Delhi), and AI2204 (Dubai to Hyderabad). On the domestic front, the cancelled flights include AI874 (Pune to Delhi), AI456 (Ahmedabad to Delhi), AI2872 (Hyderabad to Mumbai), and AI571 (Chennai to Mumbai).
“We regret the inconvenience caused to passengers. Our colleagues on the ground are making alternative arrangements for them to fly to their respective destinations at the earliest,” the airline said, while advising all travellers to check their flight status before heading to the airport.
Air India also acknowledged the potential for further disruptions, attributing them to continued aircraft checks, airspace restrictions, and poor weather conditions. Passengers will be kept informed as needed, the airline assured.
Following the tragic crash in Ahmedabad, which resulted in the deaths of 241 passengers and 33 people on the ground, Air India has taken a series of precautionary steps, including grounding aircraft for technical inspections. The airline recently announced it would reduce its wide-body international flight schedule by around 15 per cent starting Friday through mid-July.
“This reduction allows for voluntary enhanced pre-flight safety checks and accommodates longer flight durations due to Middle East airspace closures. The objective is to restore schedule stability and minimize last-minute inconvenience to passengers,” the airline added.
